CATCH UP WITH MITCH

Media Releases

Return of sculptures to India

Return of sculptures to India

19
September 2016

At
an event today with the Minister for the Arts, Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield,
and the Indian Minister for Culture and Tourism, the Hon Dr Mahesh Sharma, the
National Gallery of Australia formally returned two statues from its Asian art
collection to the Government of India.

The
Australian Government welcomes the National Gallery’s decision to voluntarily
remove these antique statues from its collection.

The
decision to return the Goddess Pratyangira and Worshippers of the
Buddha statues is the result of extensive research by the National Gallery
into the provenance of its Asian art collection.

The
National Gallery is to be commended for showing leadership in maintaining a
collection that meets the highest ethical standards.

The
statues have been significant items in the National Gallery’s Asian art
collection and treated with the utmost care while in Australia, but as
significant examples of India’s heritage, the statues will be returned.

Throughout
its investigation, the National Gallery has worked closely with its Indian
counterparts, developing strong and enduring relationships.

The
work between our institutions and governments leading up to this return is a
demonstration of Australia’s close relationship with India.

The
bilateral relationship with India is robust, with more than 500,000 people of
Indian origin studying, working and living in Australia.

In
2014 Australia and India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cultural
cooperation. An outcome of this MOU is the Festival of India in Australia
which is showcasing India’s arts and culture across Australia until November
2016.